Droppable missile nose-cone toy



July 17, 1962 M. J. VAVRA 3,0

DROPPABLE MISSILE NOSE-CONE TOY Filed Oct. 51, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Marvin J. Vuvro, INVENTOR.

as W July 17, 1962 M. J. VAVRA 3,0 3

' DROPPABLE MISSILE NOSE-CONE TOY Filed Oct. 31, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Marvin J. Vovro, INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3 Qlaims. (Cl. 244-155) This invention relates to airborne toys and more particularly to a novel missile nose-cone toy and carrier which is blown by air currents up along the string of an airborne kite and is released by a novel release mechanism when the cone reaches a point adjacent to said kite, thus simulating the dropping of a nose-cone from a toy missile.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a toy missile nose-cone assembled to a carrier from which it is detachable and which slides up the string of an airborne kite, carrying the missile nose-cone to a point adjacent to said kite where a trigger device releases it from the carrier.

Another object of the invention is to provide on the string of the kite and adjacent to the kite a release mechanism which releases the cone from the carrier so that the cone can drop to earth by gravity, simulating the descent of a missile nose-cone.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tripping hook on the cone carrier, whereby the cone is released from the carrier when contacting a release mechanism, after which the carrier slides down the string by gravity to be re-attached to another cone for a new flight up the string.

A still further object of the invention is to construct the kite, carrier, and the release mechanism of a light, durable, and inexpensive material which provides an effective droppable toy construction simulating a missile nose-cone.

The invention itself and further objects thereof will best be understood by reference to the following specification describing an embodiment of the invention and the appended claims, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in Which:

FIGURE 1 is the plan View of the invention in use;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the trigger release mechanism, a part of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is the front elevation view of the trigger release mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a side elevation view of the cone carrier, 21 part of the invention;

FIGURE 5 shows a front elevational view of the carner;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view of the cone mounted in flying position on the carrier and about to make a contact with the trigger release mechanism;

FIGURE 7 is a view of the fragmentary cone mounted on the carrier, showing the carrier in tripped position and the cone being released; and

FIGURE 8 is a plan view of the cone mounted on the carrier viewed from above, showing the manner of triggering the release mechanism of the carrier and the cone.

Referring now to FIGURE 1 of the drawing, numeral 1 represents a carrier with a missile nose-cone 4 mounted thereon and carried thereby up the string do by a current of air during the flight of a kite 3. A release trigger 2 is attached on one side to string section 6 which is interposed between kite 3 and trigger 2, as clearly shown in FIGURE 2. The other side of trigger 2 is attached to string section 6a. Trigger 2 is provided at its leading portion 16 with an aperture 8 to which an end of string 6 may be tied between trigger 2 and kite 3. At the trailing portion 18 of trigger 2 is another aperture 10 in which the free end of string 6a is tied with an excess thereof attached to the lower end of portion 18 through an aperture 12 therein. Aperture 10 in trigger release mechanism 2 allows string 6a to pass through it on the far side of trigger 2 and secures to the lower aperture 12 of trigger 2. No knot is required at aperture 10 which would otherwise impede tripping hook 34 from proceeding onto trigger release mechanism 2.

The mid-portion of trigger 2 is cut at '14, providing a tab 20 in trigger 2. Tab 20 is bent away from cut 14- and toward main portion 18, to form a continuing projection from body 18 on which tripping hook 34 of carrier 1 may ride. As will be noted from FIGURES 6 through 8, the angular projection and curvature of tab 20 with respect to the plane of the trailing portion '18 of trigger 2 is very important for effective operation of trigger 2 in providing a path for hook 34 of carrier 1. Hook 34 rides on, over, and off of tab 2% to release cone 4. The angular projection varies from 25 to 40 degrees, depending on the thickness of the material of trigger 2 and on the size of the material of which carrier 1 is made.

Carrier 1 may be made of plastic or other light material, and comprises three movable members: a supporting member 22, a cone hooking arm 26, and release member 32 which includes release hook 334- at its end. Supporting member 22 has at its free end a first loop 24 through which string 6a passes. Loop 24 providessupport to the carrier 1 at its mid-portion. The second member, hooking arm 26, includes a second loop 28 which is formed in one or two turns for passage of string 6a therethrough.

Attaching carrier 1 to string 6:: is accomplished by passing string 6a under loop 28 and then by passing string 6a over loop 28a as one might thread a spring onto a taut string, and inserting it upward into loop 28 by pulling it toward the inside. Similarly, string 6a is inserted into loop 24. This is accomplished after the kite is airborne.

Trigger mechanism 2 is shaped with a leading edge 18 that is tapered from top IlIO bottom so that when hook 34 reaches the junction of string 6a and trigger 2, it encounters a relatively small surface first, and then more of the surface of trigger 2. If trigger 2 is tilted at an oblique angle with respect to vertical, carrier 1 riding up onto trigger 2 will straighten it up and trigger 2 will become aligned with the loop of hook 34, thereby effecting the release of cone 4; Thus, carrier 1 is permanently hooked on string 6a and supported thereon by loops 24 and 28, so that it can slide freely up and down string 6a during the operation of the toy. Adjacent to loop 28 is a particularly shaped portion of hooking arm 26, forming a cone rim support hook 30, the function of which is explained below. The third movable arm of the carrier 1 provides a release member with tripping hook 34 formed into a U-shape. The free end 36 of arm 32 opposite to tripping hook 34 is looped around a shaft 38 to form an angle of approximately 45 degrees with respect to arm 32, and is supponted on shaft 38.

Supporting member 22 and the hooking arm 26 may form a single section, the mid-point of which is coiled around shaft 38 so as to rotate freely thereon during mounting and releasing of cone 4 on carrier 1. Numerals 4th and 4-0:: respectively refer to the pivot coils of hooking arm 26 and release member 32, as shown in the front elevation view of carrier 1 presented in FIGURE 5.

Preparatory to the operation of the device, the string of the ready-to-fly kite is out about twenty-four to twentysix inches from kite 3 to form string section 6, and the remaining portion 6a of the string, as shown in FIGURE 1, is held by the operator of the kite, standing on the ground. Carrier 1 is hooked onto string 6a by first passing string 6a through hooking loop 28, through support loop 24', and tripping hook 34, as shown in FIGURE 6. The free end of string 6a then passes through aperture 10, as previously described. The free end of string 6 is also tied to trigger 2 at aperture 8, as previously described. As previ- 3 ously mentioned, string 6a passes through aperture 10 and terminates in a knot in aperture 12 so that trigger 2 can be held in one balanced position at all times. This arrangement permits tripping hook 34 at all times to slip over the main portion 18 of trigger 2 and tab 20 during any ascent of the cone 4 toward kite 3, so that U-shaped hook 34 can be unhooked or tripped from carrier 1 as it passes over tab 20.

In actual operation of the droppable toy missile nosecone, kite 3 is first made-airborne by flying it in an open space, such as in a field or a park. When kite 3 has gained suflicient altitude, cone 4 is mounted on the carrier 1 and given a slight push up string 6a. Air currents blow cone 4 up string 6a toward the kite. As cone 4 moves up string 6a and finally reaches trigger 2, tripping hook 34 passes over trailing end 18, tab 20, and slides off tab 20, so as to become disengaged from tab 20. Cone body support 36 and cone rim support hook 30 are released from cone 4, freeing cone 4 from carrier 1. Cone 4- then falls back to earth in the same manner as a missile nosecone. The process of mounting the cone, flying it up the string to the kite, and then automatically releasing it to fall back to earth may be repeated as many times as desired.

The mounting of cone 4 on carrier 1 is accomplished as follows: The arms 26 and 32 of carrier 1 are straightened level so that cone body support 36 projects downward. Cone body support 36 then is inserted into the and at the same time, arm 26 is pressed against cone 4 and the rim support hook 30'is hooked over the rim of cone 4. Arm 32 is then extended upward, which operation snugly mounts cone 4 on the carrier. Finally, tripping hook 34 is hooked over string 6a, as shown in FIG- URE 6. Cone 4 now is ready for its flight toward the airborne kite 3.

Obviously, other modifications and variations of the invention, as hereinbefore set forth, may be made by those familiar with this art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toy nose-cone dropping accessory for use on the string of a flying kite, comprising a hanger having loops extending upward thereon for insertion on and slidable engagement with said kite string, one of said loops being formed at the opposite ends thereof into a U-shaped rim support; a release member having a tripping hook formed at one end and a cone body support at the opposite end thereof, said hanger and said release member being articulatingly assembled on a common axis so that said loops and said tripping hook are normally in alignment on said string; a trigger guide inserted in said string near said kite; and a lightweight cone having a body aperture along the side thereof, said cone being releasably hung between said rim support and said cone body support in said normal position of said release member with the apex of said cone pointing toward said kite, said cone body support being inserted in said aperture, whereby said hanger, release member, and cone are driven by the air currents up said kite string to said trigger guide, whereat said tripping hook engages said trigger guide and is articulated thereby on said common axis to withdraw said body support at said opposite end of said tripping hook from said aperture in said cone, whereupon said cone drops from said rim support to the ground, simulating the dropping of a missile nose-cone, and said hanger and said release member slide down said string to the kite operator, where another cone is installed and the drop is repeated.

2. A toy cone-carrying and dropping accessory for use on the string of a flying kite, comprising a hanger means including movable means attached to and articulating on said hanger, for receiving and holding a cone-shaped lightweight paper cup, and engaging means forming a part of said hanger for slidable engagement thereof with the kite string; and a release guide means having a preshaped guide track thereon to receive said movable means as said cone and hanger are pushed up the string toward the kite by wind currents, whereby said movable means is engaged upon said track, and articulating on said hanger, releases said cone-shaped paper cup to simulate the drop ping of a missile nose-cone, and said hanger slides back to the ground on said engaging means, where another cone may be attached to repeat the simulated drop.

3. A toy cone-carrying and dropping accessory foruse on the string of a flying kite, comprising a hanger including -a movable hook for receiving and holding a coneshaped lightweight cup and a fixed hook, slidably engageable on a kite string with said hanger, both said movable hook and said fixed hook being assembled together on a common articulating axis with said hanger; and a release guide plate inserted in the kite suing near the kite having a receiving guide for said movable hook pro viding a track therefor on which said movable hook rides, articulating on said axis to release said cone when said cone is borne up the kite string from the ground on said slidably engaged fixed hook, said hanger sliding back down the string to the ground on said slidable engaged fixed hook after said cone has been released.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 589,373 Folsom et al Aug. 31, 1897 1,211,896 Thomas Jan. 9, 1917 1,718,551 tFisher June 25, 1929 2,535,165 Shoemaker Dec. 26, 1950 2,689,699 Sanders Sept. 21, 1954 3,023,988 Christian Mar. 6, 1962 

